Letting agents
The Repairing Standard: a letting agency checklist
General information, not legal advice. Last checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources are linked under each section.
The Repairing Standard is the landlord's legal duty on the condition of a privately rented home in Scotland. It is set out in section 13 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. The landlord stays responsible even when a letting agent is used (mygov.scot). Agencies that manage repairs usually run the checks. This checklist turns the official summary into a routine your team can repeat, so problems get fixed before a tenant has to chase.
What the law says (s13(1), summarised)
A house meets the repairing standard if it is wind and water tight and reasonably fit for human habitation. Its structure and exterior must be in reasonable repair and proper working order, and so must its installations for water, gas, electricity (including residual current devices), sanitation, fixed space heating and water heating. Fixtures, fittings and appliances the landlord provides must be in reasonable repair, and furnishings must be safe to use. The house must also meet the tolerable standard and be substantially free from damp and mould (added from 6 October 2026). Common parts must be safely accessible and usable, there must be a food storage and preparation space, and in tenements common doors must be secure with satisfactory emergency exit locks. Full text: legislation.gov.uk, s13.
The checklist
Requirement wording is quoted from mygov.scot, which describes its list as "a summary of some of the main requirements". Use the gov.scot detailed guidance on the repairing standard (linked from that page) for the full detail.
| Area | Requirement (mygov.scot) | Evidence to keep | Frequency stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and exterior | be structurally stable; be wind and watertight; be free from damp and mould; have a proper entrance and enough access to outside doors; have enough ventilation, light, heating and insulation; have any walls and roof in reasonable condition; tenants able to get to and use communal areas safely | Inspection notes, dated photos | — |
| Electrical | safe, working and in reasonable condition, including sockets and light fittings; RCD fitted; appliances supplied safe and regularly inspected | Electrical inspection report; appliance check records | Inspection by a registered electrician "at least once every 5 years" |
| Gas | safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer; working and in a reasonable condition | Gas safety record | "checked annually by a registered engineer" |
| Fire | interlinked smoke alarms in the living room and every hallway and landing; heat alarm in the kitchen; carbon monoxide detector in all spaces with a carbon-fuelled appliance; specialist alarms for deaf or hard-of-hearing tenants; tenement emergency exit doors with locks openable from inside without a key | Alarm test log; install dates | — |
| Water and sewerage | safe water supply; working toilet; drainage and sewerage; sink, bath or shower, and wash basin with hot and cold water | Inspection notes | — |
| Food and cooking | a suitable area for storing and preparing food; cooking facilities or somewhere the tenant can install their own | Inventory | — |
| Furniture and fittings | furniture and fittings provided are in reasonable condition and safe, including carpets and equipment | Inventory, check-in report | — |
| Legionella | assess the property for legionella health risks | Risk assessment | — |
| Damp and mould | inspect within 10 working days; written summary within 3 working days; if substantial, start repairs within 5 working days | Report date, summary, repair dates | See Awaab's Law workflow |
Turning it into a routine
- Before each tenancy: go through the full checklist and file the evidence.
- Certificate calendar: diary every electrical and gas renewal date. If your agency manages these for the landlord, Code para 85 says you "must have appropriate systems and controls in place to ensure these are done to an appropriate standard within relevant timescales" and "maintain relevant records of the work" (Code).
- During the tenancy: note any issue found on routine visits, and raise it with the landlord and tenant where appropriate (Code para 74).
- Records: keep one file per property with the dates, certificates and messages.
If a tenant applies to the tribunal
A tenant, or a third party (for the time being a local authority), can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) for a decision on whether the landlord has met the repairing standard. The tribunal can then order the landlord to carry out the necessary repairs, and "various enforcement powers apply" if the landlord does not (Housing and Property Chamber). In law, that order is a repairing standard enforcement order. It specifies the period for completing the work, which cannot be less than 21 days (s24 of the 2006 Act). From 6 October 2026, the tribunal must also consider whether the landlord met the Awaab's Law damp and mould duties (s24(1A)).
How Lorework helps
Lorework schedules the certificate and inspection reminders, chases contractors and landlords on time, and keeps a clear record of what was done and when. It follows your agency's own procedure and asks for approval before it writes or submits anything.
Related: Code of Practice repairs · Awaab's Law · Lorework for letting agents in Scotland
Questions
Who is responsible for the Repairing Standard?
The landlord. mygov.scot says it remains the landlord's responsibility even if they use a letting agent.
How often is the electrical safety inspection?
At least once every 5 years, by a registered electrician (mygov.scot).
How often is the gas safety check?
Annually, by a Gas Safe registered engineer (mygov.scot).
Does the Repairing Standard cover damp and mould?
Yes. From 6 October 2026 the house must be substantially free from damp and mould (s13(1)(ha) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006), and the Awaab's Law timescales apply.
What can the tribunal do?
If it decides the landlord has not met the repairing standard, the First-tier Tribunal must make a repairing standard enforcement order requiring the necessary work, within a period it specifies (at least 21 days).
See your own process run on time
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